title: Successful treatment of refractory autoimmune hepatitis with rituximab.
abstract: Autoimmune hepatitis is a severe liver disease in which ~10% of patients do not respond to standard treatment. We describe a new rescue therapy using anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab). Complete remission was obtained and maintained by using low doses of immunosuppressive drugs with repeated anti-CD20 infusions.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology-Hepatology Division, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costaguta
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Álvarez
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: autoimmune hepatitis; children; rituximab; treatment